1849 Massachusetts & California Co. Gold Half Eagle

Coin Details

Description

This is the 1849 Massachusetts & California Company five-dollar gold piece. The Massachusetts and California Company was organized at Northampton, Massachusetts early in 1849, with Josiah Hayden as president, the Rev. F. P. Tracy as its agent and William H. Hayden as assayer, and planned to coin gold in California. Its five-dollar design shows a shield with a mounted vaquero, held by a bear and a stag above a ribbon reading ALTA, and a wreath around FIVE D. with the company name and 1849. Adams thought the few gold pieces were trial strikings, alloyed with copper unlike most California gold, and that the silver and copper pieces were made in the East. The Mint assayers found one among the private gold sent to them; it weighed about 115 grains and seemed to be alloyed with copper. Greysheet separates reverses with 16 and 15 berries in the wreath (K-1 and K-2). Catalogue numbers: K-1, K-2. PCGS number 10232.

Cross References

K-1; K-2